The US national team has announced its roster for the upcoming round of qualifiers against El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago.

Coach Bob Bradley chose to call in the bulk of the team he has been using all summer long, with a few minor variations.

Backstopping the team for the two crucial matches will be standby Tim Howard, who is coming off a rocky start to his club season at Everton. His backup will be fellow Premiere League shot stopper Brad Guzan, who has played well in extensive action early this season at Aston Villa.

With Oguchi Onyewu suspended for the El Salvador match in Sandy, Utah, the back line will likely be anchored by the duo of Jay DeMerit and Carlos Bocanegra. Chad Marshall and Clarence Goodson provide the other options at center back.

The wing backs will be a harder decision for Coach Bradley, with Steve Cherundolo coming off a tough match in Mexico, and Jonathan Spector waiting in the wings. On the left, Jonathan Bornstein looks like a probable option if Bocanegra moves back to the center.

The midfield is once again anchored by Michael Bradley, with the Houston Dynamo's Rico Clark likely to pair with him in the center. Landon Donovan, fully recovered from his short but highly publicized battle with the H1N1 virus, is certain to take his spot on the flanks along with Clint Dempsey.

Also included in the midfield call-ups are fan favorite Jose Francisco Torres of Pachuca in Mexico, and Gold Cup stand-outs Kyle Beckerman of Real Salt Lake and Stuart Holden of Houston.

Bradley will also have a decision to make up front, as the recent torrid play of Jozy Altidore at Hull City and Charlie Davies at Sochaux may make it hard for him to include perennial favorite Brian Ching. Somewhat surprising among the forwards was the call-up of Salt Lake forward Robbie Findley, who has been on a recent goal scoring run in MLS.

The United States needs six points from the upcoming two matches to be able to rest easily going into the final round of games in October. Anything less than two wins, combined with home wins by Honduras, Mexico, and Costa Rica, would leave the Americans in serious danger of finishing out of the top three, automatic qualifying spots for the 2010 World Cup.

The Americans currently sit in third in the six team group, with ten points, two behind first place Costa Rica and trailing Honduras on goal differential, with the Mexicans just one point behind.

The US takes on El Salvador on September 5 in Utah, then travels to take on Trinidad and Tobago four days later in the Western Caribbean.

scott n guys .....youre so right, connor casey,he wouldnt make the uk 3rd division,get cooper in,bornstien i love as a guy BUT HE CANT CUT IT,GET CASTILLO IN plus big fan of cherundolo..BUT SPECTORS BETTER,GT CROSSER,MORE NATURAL UNFAZED PLAYER,WE NEED GOALS IN THESE GAMES,BRADLEY GET IT RIGHT OR YOURE SACKED................... jozy and davies to crush the teams in nxt 2 matches

Scott

Monday August 31, 2009 8:02 pm

Where's Kenny Cooper?? Conor Casey has shown me exactly nada in his appearances. Not that familiar with Findley.

Robbie Rogers hasn't shown anything since the thrashing of Grenada.

The rest of the squad is just fine, though. I would prefer to see Spector get some play on the right over Cherundolo. Spector sent in a couple of great crosses to Dempsey's head in the Confed Cup, a bit more dangerous going forward than Stevie C. and I think a bit more athletic covering guys out wide....

51NC3P0NG

Monday August 31, 2009 9:23 am

Bradley should continue to utilize combinations that worked in the Confederations Cup. Friendlies are the time for experimentation, not in World Cup matches and the Gold Cup.

I was hoping for Robbie Rogers at left midfield, because he can actually play. Still, seeing Torres at LM, might be just the thing?

Cheers BL, how're u keepin? Has anyone at YA heard anything about what Freddy Adu is going to do for a club this year? Perhaps Adu needs to part ways with his agent?

Justin

Sunday August 30, 2009 10:35 pm

I'll take you one further. I believe Kenny Cooper is a better option to start that Jozy. Jozy to me is more of the guy you bring on between 60 and 70 and hope he can give you something. Davies and Cooper up top.

Tibor

Sunday August 30, 2009 7:38 pm

Bradley is crazy not taking Kenny Cooper over Findley. Cooper has scored by the bunch everywhere he has played, including as a super sub for the nats.

ICEMANofALFRED

Saturday August 29, 2009 2:00 pm

Well judging by the number of CB's brought into camp, it would seem that Coach Bradley intends to keep Bocanegra outside at LB... the only other LB listed is Bornstein. I suppose they could try Spector switching to the left but I doubt that he'd start there.
We need goals this first match and if there ever was a time to play a more attacking line up it would be here at home against a team that hasn't played very well on the road. We should only be using one DMF in this game and instead commit more of our players to the attack... if we're afraid to attack at home, imagine what it will be like away in Trinidad or more importantly next October in Tegucigalpa!?
Hey I know Bob won't go for it, but I'd sit the Fulham Rapper and start Torres on the left, move Donovan to the right side and use Holden or Feilhaber as an attacking CH behind the Strikers... Davies and Altidore. I think that we'd have a much better chance of getting in crosses from both wide MF's and wouldn't have to depend on Bocanegra overlapping out of the back .
We need to win by a clear three goal margin to get back into second place and set us up to move to first next October.

Mike

Friday August 28, 2009 1:19 pm

Bocanegra still scares me... he's a give-away machine.

Sudz

Friday August 28, 2009 12:51 pm

While I'd rather see Castillo than Bornstein, for me it just conjures up shades of inserting David Regis in USMNT for France 98. Given time, Castillo should be worked into the squad.
Sudz

trix

Friday August 28, 2009 1:20 am

What is Bradley thinking we need to get all the home points we cannot afford to loose any at this stage. We still have to travel to Honduras that is a tough game.

I would much rather see Edgar castillo then JB. At this point in qualifiers he should pretty much have an idea off who the 14-15 players are that can rotate without it affecting the outcome cause they are not National team material.

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